Maryland AD Jim Smith makes a big-splash addition

If Jim Smith is going to live up to his promise of making Maryland "the best athletic program in the country," he'll need to continue upgrading the athletic department's staff. He continued that process on Tuesday, when Maryland hired highly regarded Utah State AD Diana Sabau as a deputy AD.

Sabau, who worked with Smith during his time at Ohio State, isn't new to the Big Ten or high-level decision-making. She spent two years as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Sports Officer for the conference, overseeing all 28 sponsored sports and becoming the first Chief Sports Officer in league history. Before that, she logged over two decades at Ohio State, where she rose to Senior Deputy AD and helped guide one of the largest and most successful athletic departments in the country. That included a four-year run as football's sport administrator during which the Buckeyes captured four Big Ten titles and made multiple CFP appearances. She was also the point person for major partnerships, including the university's groundbreaking deal with Nike and a COVID-era extension with Levy Restaurants.

Both of the head basketball coaches she hired there, Danny Sprinkle and Jerrod Calhoun, reached the NCA Touranment in their first seasons on the job. She also raised the two largest donations in the program's history, each more than $10 million. She officially starts July 28. Maryland will reportedly pay a $500,000 buyout to hire her.

Most recently, she served as Vice President and Director of Athletics at Utah State, where she led the Aggies through a move to the Pac-12, launched a $125 million "Reach and Rise" campaign (the biggest in school history), and hired new head coaches in football, men's basketball and women's basketball. In 2023–24, Utah State had arguably the best year in its athletic history, with championships in men's basketball, women's soccer, men's tennis and women's volleyball. It marked the first time in school history that football, men's basketball, soccer and volleyball all made the postseason in the same year.

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At Maryland, Sabau's plate will be full. She'll take the lead on football scheduling, revenue-share planning, department-wide operating efficiencies, Big Ten correspondence, contract negotiations, and overall strategy for student-athlete experience and performance.

"Diana comes to Maryland with a history of building dynamic winning cultures in college athletics," Jim Smith said. "She has deep experience in the Big Ten with her long tenure at Ohio State and her time at the league office. She knows what success looks like, and she brings national credibility, relationships and leadership that will serve us well."

Sabau echoed that excitement. "I'm incredibly honored and excited to join the Maryland Athletic Department and work alongside Jim, our Terrapin staff and student-athletes," she said. "Coming back to a conference that I know and love is important and special to me. This is a dynamic time for college athletics, and I'm eager to help drive strategic growth, operational excellence, and a student-athlete-centered culture that reflects Maryland's tradition of excellence."

One of her biggest supporters, longtime Ohio State AD Gene Smith, had high praise for Sabau's move to College Park. "Her deep experience within the Big Ten—both at the conference level and at The Ohio State University—has shaped her into a highly effective and versatile administrator," he said. "She brings a unique blend of skills and leadership that will serve Maryland well."

Sabau is also a key figure nationally. She serves on the Executive Board for Women Leaders in College Sports, is a member of the John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation Board, and remains active in NACDA. Her hiring signals another aggressive step forward for Maryland Athletics, adding a respected, connected, and proven leader to the top of the organizational chart at a critical moment for the department and the broader college sports landscape.

Via Brian Preece of KSL Sports in Utah:

"Sabau leaves behind a strong, albeit brief, legacy in Logan. She has overseen the Utah State Athletics Department, which has made significant financial and personnel advances in many individual programs since her arrival in August 2023. The most significant accomplishment in the Sabau era is Utah State receiving and accepting an offer to join the new-look Pac-12."

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